A man engulfed in flames after an 18-wheeler crashed into his car on the Tappan Zee Bridge yesterday desperately jumped into the Hudson River, officials said.

Another person – identified as 14-year-old boy Angel Norales of The Bronx – was killed in the crash, which shut down the busy span for hours before and during the evening rush.

The man who jumped was Escolastico Arzu, 44, also of The Bronx. Bridge workers and firefighters pulled him from the river.

Officials said the victims’ car had apparently broken down and was stopped on the Westchester-bound lanes near the Rockland end.

A tractor-trailer plowed into the car from behind at about 3 p.m., setting off the raging blaze.

Arzu was taken by helicopter to Westchester Medical Center with severe burns and was reported in stable condition.

The truck driver was not charged.

The three Westchester-bound lanes and one Rockland-bound lane were still closed late last night as officials assessed damage to the pavement and the aging bridge.

On Labor Day last year, an eerily similar accident claimed the lives of three Long Island residents – Angela Nash, 44, a noted motivational speaker; her husband, Kevin, 46; and their daughter, Reina, 16.

Their car had stalled on the bridge only to catch fire after being slammed by a tractor-trailer.

An emergency team took 10 minutes to get to that accident – too late to save the family.

Budget cuts in 2001 had eliminated a response team that could have gotten there in three minutes, according to firefighters from the towns on either side of the bridge.

The Thruway Authority has for many years been pursuing the construction of a new span.

The Tappan Zee originally was designed to carry only 100,000 cars a day, but is now carrying 135,000.

The bridge, which turns 50 in December, was designed to last 50 years.

Federal highway officials have given it “poor” ratings in several categories.